"What Is the why behind everything you do? When we know this in life or design, it is very empowering, and the path is clear." Jack Canfield

Goals are crucial to success in any organization. This is especially true in success for network marketers who operate independently or in smaller units. Network marketing organizations focus on goal setting as the key to success.

My wife's Mary Kay sales team frequently holds unit goal-setting meetings. Mary Kay Corporate hosts quarterly meetings that always talk about goal setting. Having goals is beneficial. In 2022 article in Positive Psychology, The Science & Psychology Of Goal-Setting 101 by Madhuleena Roy Chowdhury writes about the importance of goals.

She writes," Goal-setting in psychology is an essential tool for self-motivation and self-drivenness – both at personal and professional levels. It gives meaning to our actions and the purpose of achieving something higher. By setting goals, we get a roadmap of where we are heading and what the right way would lead us there. "

Goal setting may seem second nature to many network marketers, yet studies show that less than 20% of people have goals, and only about 3% achieve them. We see this in the dismal completion of  New Years resolutions and business goals in many organizations.

Articles researching these concerns cite a failure to write goals down and review them as causes, and some articles note that people report little purpose to their goals. There are network marketers who are wildly successful in meeting their goals. They are on the stage of their annual sales meetings, jamboree, or seminars. What is different for them is that they focus and fuel their goals by first aligning with a strong sense of purpose or their Why. Their goals are fueled by knowing and committing to their why first in everything they do, Asking themselves why I in this business am?

Interestingly it is rarely about the money, car, special trips, or recognition. It is a foundation of purpose to serve that yields those results. These achievers have committed to discovering and acting in their way to make a difference.

People don't buy what you sell. They buy Why you sell it. - Simon Sinek

In this article, we will consider three questions.

1. What is the Why?
2. What are the benefits of knowing and acting in your Why?
3. How Can you discover or clarify your Why?

What is the Why?

Your "Why" is a statement of purpose that describes why you do the work you do and why you live your lifestyle. It is your calling. It is your conviction. It is your mission statement." Sinek points out that most leaders or organizations plan in a reverse  three-step process

First Step-  What do we  produce, our outcomes

Second Step- How they will do it, our goals

Third Step- Why do we do what we do, our purpose

Instead, He proposes  considering the three-step process below, which he refers to as the Golden Circle

First Step- Why do we do what we do?

Second Step- How will they do it? These are our goals.

Third Step- What do we produce? These are our outcomes.

"What are the benefits of knowing and acting in you're Why?

1. With clarity on goals, you are emotionally connected to, will lead to results.

Consider  Mary Kay cosmetics "Enriching Women's Lives. "Enriching women's lives is based on Mary Kay's desire to achieve equity in the workforce

2. A focus on service that will lead to results.

Howard Schultz, the founder of Starbucks, often says we are in the people business serving coffee.

3. A benchmark to review and align our goals to our Why.

This is especially important in the ups and downs of a network marketer's business year.

Catherine Hollister is an endurance athlete and the owner of Blue Sky Endurance in My Pleasant, South Carolina. Before any endurance event in the area, she provides a front window space at her store as a "Why Window. "Those participating in any endurance event, marathon, long-distance open water swim, or triathlon can come by her store and write their Why for competing on the window. This practice allows the participant to state their Why for anyone to see. It is an act of commitment and accountability to act in their Why. Knowing they're Why is a source of energy when they are in the toughest part of the event called "the Suck." In this challenging time, they are reminded of their Why to carry on.

Endurance athletes focus and refocus on their why for every competition. A bathroom mirror could be a network marketer's "Why" Window

4> A  vision of your business being more than sales and sharing.

Leadership expert Jeff Henderson notes that good is good business" Consider these ads "Subaru is love, " Can a company go completely green" (Walmart ). "Our fleet will be 100% emission-free" (Amazon). Mary Kay Cosmetics is a significant contributor to women's cancer research and domestic violence prevention. These visions create results.

5> A model and guide for expected behaviors for any network marketers and their sales units.

In 2018, my wife and I were in Phoenix and were flying home to Chicago on Southwest Airlines. Southwest's organization is based on exceptional customer service to expand travel opportunities. Gary Kelly, their president, notes, "We are in the people business first, then flying." This why, was modeled that day. When I reached my seat, I had an awful realization. I had left a new 400-dollar weatherproof bicycle jacket in a café outside our gate. I quickly approached the attendant and explained the situation. She looked  at me quizzically, saying, "Well, you can't leave the plane because of Federal regulations by yourself, but I have an idea and will be right back ." She came with the plane's pilot. The pilot could leave the plane with me. We hurried to the café and met our waitress, who was walking toward my gate with my coat to get it to me. The Southwest flight attendant, pilot, and café waitress were all acting in their why. They all acted to do the best they could for me.

They were acting in creating a story that sets any organization apart from its competition.

"When You Know your Why You Know your Way" Michael Hyatt

How can you discover or clarify your Why?

Simon Sinek, in Find, Your Why, provides a simple yet profound four-step exercise to start the process of finding or clarifying your Why.

First, take a timeout!

Find a quiet time and space. Reflect on your experiences, beliefs, world views, and passions to make a difference in your leadership and life.

Second, complete the Why  statement below,

My Why Is  To_( my activity/activities )______________________

So That__( my contributions)_________________________

Third, Seek out a colleague, fellow leader, or a leadership coach to work with who shares your commitment to focus and clarity about your Why.

The essential factor in determining who you choose is that they will care for you enough to be brutally honest. Share and review your Why statement with them for clarity and honesty. You may rewrite it until you feel good about it and your colleague or a coach agrees this is you. Review it daily for a week. Meet with your colleague or a coach again to review the process and refine your statement.

Fourth, Post your Why statement in a visible place to see every day.

Much like Catherine's Why Window at Blue Sky Endurance. Your Why is your guide for all you do in your leadership and life. Commit to practicing your Why and giving yourself the grace to make mistakes and learn and grow. Commit to periodic review to energize yourself and refocus in challenging times. Knowing your Why will supercharge your goals.

You will become one of those goal achievers and feel good about making a difference. You will know your way because you know your why!